Pope’s Discourse to the Participants of the Catholic-Islamic Forum

(November 6, 2008) God calls us to work together on behalf of the victims of disease, hunger, poverty, injustice and violence. For Christians, the love of God is inseparably bound to the love of our brothers and sisters, of all men and women, without distinction of race and culture. The Muslim tradition is also quite clear in encouraging practical commitment in serving the most needy, and readily recalls the “Golden Rule” in its own version: your faith will not be perfect, unless you do unto others that which you wish for yourselves, said Pope Benedict XVI. He was addressing the Participants of the Seminar organized by the “Catholic-Muslim Forum” established between the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Muslim Leaders at its conclusion on Thursday, 6^th of November at the Vatican. The Pope said that this gathering is a clear sign of the mutual esteem and desire to listen respectfully to one another. Speaking on the theme of the seminar, “Love of God, Love of Neighbour: The Dignity of the Human Person and Mutual Respect” – is particularly significant and has evoked great interest from all. The theme itself highlights even more clearly the theological and spiritual foundations of a central teaching of our respective religions. It was out of love that God created the whole universe, and by his love he becomes present in human history. This infinite and eternal love enables us to respond by giving all our love in return: love for God and love for neighbour, said the Pope. Then the Holy father added: “I am well aware that Muslims and Christians have different approaches in matters regarding God. Yet we can and must be worshippers of the one God who created us and is concerned about each person in every corner of the world. Together we must show, by our mutual respect and solidarity, that we consider ourselves members of one family: the family that God has loved and gathered together from the creation of the world to the end of human history.” The Pope concluded saying that he would pray that the “Catholic-Muslim Forum”, now confidently taking its first steps, can become ever more a space for dialogue, and assist us in treading together the path to an ever fuller knowledge of Truth.